BOYLSTON 
Opponents of a cell tower proposed for 599 Main St. didn't get what they wanted Monday night. The project did not go away. But they did receive some promising news.

The Planning Board last month voted to extend the final date a decision could be made until February, but not without much discussion on whether Verizon, which claims to be negotiating a new lease with a private party, was simply trying to stall the process to wear down opponents.

Monday's meeting was called for two reasons. To get details of Verizon's new plans, and to decide whether or not to vote on the plan for 599 Main St. immediately.

The details did not come. On the advice of town counsel, the Planning Board rejected all attempts at discussing Verizon's alternate site. The reason, according to Chairman William Manter, is that any new site proposed will have its own set of abutters, who have a legal right to be part of the discussion, even if it is hypothetical. Too much information revealed Monday would have prevented those abutters from being part of the discussion.

Verizon's attorney Daniel Klasnick offered little details, other than to say that he felt a lease with another property owner was very likely and that the new location would cover the loss of service Verizon claims to have in a roughly 1.5-mile area around Route 70 and Central Street. He also said he did not feel the site would need changes to zoning bylaws, though it was left unclear whether that meant it does not need waivers, like Verizon is requesting now.

“I think it is a really good site that the board will be happy with,” Klasnick said.

Klasnick stayed silent when asked directly to comment on whether Verizon agreed with abutters that a tower at 599 Main St. creates safety issues for residents and employees, due to falling ice. To the disappointment of opponents, Klasmick also remained silent when asked why Verizon will not withdraw its application for Main Street.

Planning Board members noted Verizon will likely want to keep Main Street as an option, should negotiations fail with the other landowner. The company already has a plan, engineer studies and a lease for that location, as well as an open but near-completed public hearing.

According to Klasnick, although negotiations are going well, they could still take a few months. Verizon, he said, would like to finish the process for 599 Main St. no later than May, when Laura Levy's appointment as an alternate member is set to expire.

Levy lost her bid for re-election while the hearing process was under way. As such, her replacement cannot vote on the 599 Main St. location. Levy was appointed as an alternate so the board could finish the Verizon hearing with a full complement of members voting, and to sit in on other hearings where members may need to recuse themselves.

Planner Ralph Viscomi said Verizon's refusal to withdraw actually benefits the town. If denied the waivers it requested, Verizon has only 20 days in which to file an appeal in court. In previous meetings, Viscomi has pointed out the town loses any power it has to negotiate changes to plans once the matter is in court. And, despite abutters' expressions to the contrary, Planning Board members have said they think a court decision could go against the town.

“Right now, the only reason we would vote on this would be to incite Verizon to fight us in court,” Viscomi said.

Right now, the board and Verizon have extended the required decision-making date until the end of February. The board will meet again in early February to discuss extending that date further.

While Klasnick made no promises, Planning Board Chairman William Manter asked if a lease could be presented in February so the board can resolve the matter of the first site, or at least assuage concerns of abutters.

“It would be most helpful if the lease can be concluded by February,” Manter said.